"Every day, there is a chance that something will inspire the urge to record or revisit it in paint," describes artist William B. Hoyt.
Lucky for us, many of the views, vistas, and vacations that inspire Hoyt are classic Maine.
Lobster Bake 36x24 Oil on Linen $10,500
Lobster Bake is one such painting. It captures just a moment in time in paint. This typical scene on the coast captures the attention of all lucky enough to watch.
"Gilbert and Wally Leach are lobstermen on Islesboro, and they know how to time a lobster bake with the tide, as only years of experience can prove," says Hoyt. "They must start at dawn when the tide is way out. They build up the fire and fill it with big rocks, waiting for the proper heat. Then, they layer the corn in its husks, lobsters, seaweed, and tarp. It steams for four hours."
These two know precisely how long. They’ll pull out the perfect corn and lobsters just as the tide licks the coals' edge.
"The tide will extinguish the fire and clean up the beach," says Hoyt. "Perfect. The other ideal thing is the boat showing up in the scene when it did."
Boathouse Interior 13x20 Oil on Panel$2800
"The sun slanted through the windows, and each boat inside glowed, reflecting the light around the room," describes Hoyt. "This might be a boathouse for a sailing program.
"I crept around, taking pictures outside, enchanted by the HALLELUJAH boat angled on the ramp," says Hoyt. "I couldn’t resist looking inside and was so glad I did."
Gothic Building, Belfast 8x12 Oil on Linen on Panel $1400
"Belfast, Maine, features one of those five-way intersections with a triangular building. I painted en plain air across the way and cursed myself a little for choosing the most ornate and intricate building to try to paint in a short time," explains Hoyt. "Leave it to me to pick the most complicated subject! It’s just ridiculous."
The next day, Hoyt was at the beach at Bayside and saw the same woman he had painted with the groceries.
"I tried not to freak her out when I asked if she’d been wearing a white shirt in Belfast the day before," he laughs. "When she said yes. I told her she was in my painting. For her, it was no big deal. Maybe she gets painted pretty often!"
Off New Harbor 20x50 Oil on Linen $15,500
"Crashing waves are like music to me. And the New Harbor series kept beloved shorelines close to mind," shares Hoyt.
While the last snow squalls whirled over Hoyt's studio skylight this winter, He was imagining gulls and seaspray.
"Keeping a wood boat sea-worthy is no small task! These two boats are part of Leetes Island Oysters. They’re stored in a mud berth in Stony Creek, Connecticut," Hoyt says. "The mud helps keep the wood damp in winter, keeping the boat watertight."
Hoyt’s work will be on display from August 31 through September 25. The Gallery at the Grande is open daily at 10 a.m. Though Hoyt’s art is best viewed in person, it can be viewed virtually at maine-art.com. For more information, please contact 207-967-2803 or info@maine-art.com.